Editorial Medicalfacts / Janine Budding October 15, 2023 – 9:26 PM
Travelers who are vaccinated against rabies before departure are just as well protected with one shot as with the current two shots. This is evident from research by the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), which was published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. It is an important discovery, because there are regular shortages of vaccines due to supply problems among manufacturers. Moreover, it saves travelers costs and time.
Deadliest viral disease
Rabies is the deadliest viral disease in the world, killing around 59,000 people every year. The rabies virus is transmitted through contact with infected mammals, such as dogs, cats and bats. If you are scratched or bitten by an animal, you will need to be treated with a series of vaccinations.
Powerful protection
The LUMC study now shows that in the preventive vaccination schedule, one injection is not inferior to the current schedule of two injections. “Even with just one injection, powerful protection of the immune system is built up,” says research leader and professor of infectious diseases Leo Visser. “We hope that this will encourage more people to be preventively vaccinated against rabies before their tropical holiday. That is not always possible now, due to shortages. But the costs are also often a barrier. A vaccination series of two injections is expensive and easily costs more than 150 euros.”
1 in 300
In the Netherlands the chance of contracting rabies is small. But in other countries the chance is much greater. This is especially true for countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. On average, 1 in 300 travelers per month sustain a bite wound abroad. By getting vaccinated before your trip, your body is well equipped to protect you against the rabies virus in the future after the repeat injections.
New vaccination schedule
It is not yet known when people can use the new vaccination schedule. The shorter schedule must first be included in the official guidelines.
Source: LUMC
Editorial Medicalfacts / Janine Budding
I studied physiotherapy and health care business administration. I am also a registered independent client supporter and informal care broker. I have a lot of experience in various positions in healthcare, the social domain and the medical and pharmaceutical industries, nationally and internationally. And I have broad medical knowledge of most specialties in healthcare. And the healthcare laws from which healthcare is regulated and financed. I attend most of the leading medical conferences in Europe and America every year to keep my knowledge up to date and to keep up with the latest developments and innovations. I am currently doing a Masters in applied psychology.
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2023-10-15 19:29:37
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